Remembering Soldiers and Defense Lobbying, T-Paw’s Mideast Slipup and More in Capital Eye Opener: May 30

Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY: As we dedicate this day to those who serve our nation at home and abroad, it’s interesting to note the steadily growing power of the defense industry within the borders of the nation’s capital.

The political influence of the defense sector in terms of campaign contributions and lobbying has risen significantly during the past decade, especially in the wake the September 11, 2011, terrorist attacks and U.S. involvement in multiple foreign wars.

During the 2010 election cycle, the defense sector contributed $22.4 million to federal candidates, parties and political committees. That’s an increase of more than 50 percent since the 2000 election cycle, when defense interests donated $14.7 million, the Center for Responsive Politics’ research indicates.

The money spent by the defense industry on lobbying during the past decade has also more than doubled.

During 2001, defense interests spent $68 million on federal lobbying. Since then, the defense sector has spent close to $150 million during each year in the last three years. During the first quarter of 2011 alone, more than 240 companies and groups within the defense sector reported spending a combined $34 million on lobbying, according to the Center’s research.

YET ANOTHER SUPER PAC FORMED:Stephen Colbert is not the only one trying to form a super PAC.

As the 2012 election draws closer, many besides the popular comedian are looking to use last year’s Supreme Court Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission decision to become politically active in ways that they previously could not.

By donating to independent expenditure only-committees, individuals, as well as corporations, unions and other organizations, can now spend unlimited amounts on political expenditures in support of or opposition to a candidate, so long as they are not coordinated with any party or candidate’s campaign.

The newest group to seek this unlimited firepower is the Conservative Action Fund, based in Alabama, which registered as a super PAC with the Federal Election Commission earlier this month.

Shaun McCutcheon, founder of the Conservative Action Fund and a Tea Party activist, told OpenSecrets Blog that the Tea Party movement’s philosophy did not match his exactly, so he decided to establish a new organization.

“We just wanted to promote some ideas and issues we believe in,” McCutcheon said. “Freedom is one of the biggest.”

Dan Backer, who filed the group’s documents with the FEC and serves as its attorney, told OpenSecrets Blog that he has helped at least three other clients during the past year register to become super PACs.

“In 2010, new individuals got involved in politics for the first time,” Backer said. “A lot of people feel a much more personal connection when they’re spending money on the election of candidates they agree with rather than just writing a check to a campaign.”

The Conservative Action Fund was founded to “combat the Democrats’ lies,” according to its website.

“Whether it be Union Bosses in Wisconsin, or lying DCCC ads scaring and tricking seniors, or constant media misrepresentation of the facts, our work is laid out for us,” the website states. “It can be morning again in America. But we must fight for that sunrise.”

IRAQ? IRAN? SUPER PAC CALLS OUT T-PAW: A single letter may be the only difference between the names of Iraq and Iran, but in politics, the similarity between the countries ends with their names.

A slipup by GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty during a press conference last week — confusing Iraq with Iran — could have been the perfect opportunity for the opposing party to portray him in a negative light.

But it was a liberal-leaning independent super PAC, known as American Bridge 21st Century, that sent the transcript of the former Minnesota governors’ error to reporters.

American Bridge, founded by Media Matters’ David Brock, aims to build a video library for Democratic ad makers to use to defeat Republican candidates, Politico reported.

And with groups like American Bridge now being allowed to raise unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions and individuals, candidates on both sides will have to be even more careful of what they say during the 2012 election cycle. Every slipup could be the subject of a new ad.

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